Will Bangladesh Play the T20 World Cup or Withdraw?

Bangladesh’s participation in the upcoming T20 World Cup remains uncertain as the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) awaits a final decision from the International League T20 Cricket Council (ICC). The ICC Board is expected to meet today, January 21, after a late-scheduled session, with the deadline set for Bangladesh to communicate its position.

At the heart of the issue is Bangladesh’s refusal to travel to India, citing security concerns. The BCB has formally requested that its matches be moved to Sri Lanka, a proposal the ICC has so far rejected. Multiple meetings between the two sides have failed to produce a resolution, leaving Bangladesh facing a difficult choice.

ESPNcricinfo has outlined several possible scenarios some more likely than others.

Bangladesh Agree to Play in India

Since Bangladesh government sports adviser Asif Nazrul publicly stated the government’s position in a Facebook post on January 4, both the government and the BCB have remained firm in their stance. The BCB has followed government advice throughout, consistently highlighting concerns about player safety in India.

Given how strongly both parties have held their position, a sudden reversal appears highly unlikely. Should Bangladesh agree to play in India, it would likely trigger significant public backlash at home.

ICC Accepts Bangladesh’s Request and Moves Matches to Sri Lanka

This scenario is considered improbable. The BCB has repeatedly asked the ICC to relocate its fixtures to Sri Lanka. During meetings last week, Bangladesh proposed being moved from Group C to Group B, swapping places with Ireland, who are scheduled to play all their group matches in Sri Lanka.

The ICC rejected this proposal, as well as another similar suggestion, and has maintained its position that the original groups and schedule will not be altered.

Bangladesh Withdraw from the T20 World Cup

This is increasingly seen as the most likely outcome. A withdrawal would carry significant consequences for Bangladesh cricket.

From a competitive standpoint, missing an ICC event would negatively affect Bangladesh’s rankings. While Bangladesh would earn no points, the other 19 teams would have opportunities to improve their positions. It is still unclear how this would impact Bangladesh’s chances of automatic qualification for the next T20 World Cup.

For players, the loss would be even more tangible. World Cups offer rare global exposure for Bangladeshi cricketers, who otherwise struggle to secure opportunities in overseas T20 leagues. For example, Rishad Hossain’s strong performance in the previous edition helped him earn contracts in the Big Bash League this season.

There would also be financial implications. The BCB would forfeit the US$500,000 preparation fee provided by the ICC, while players would miss out on prize money of at least US$200,000 shared among the squad—potentially more depending on match results.

If Bangladesh withdraw, Scotland, the highest-ranked team among those not qualified, would be invited to replace them.

ICC and BCB Find a Compromise

This outcome appears unlikely, as there is little room for a true middle ground. Earlier discussions included the possibility of Bangladesh playing at alternative venues within India, but this was rejected by the BCB.

There were also reports of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) offering to host Bangladesh’s matches. An unrealistic suggestion given Pakistan themselves are scheduled to play in Sri Lanka. Additionally, reports of the PCB threatening to withdraw in support of Bangladesh are widely viewed as posturing. Though the PCB has formally written to the ICC backing Bangladesh’s stance.